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Vietnam, Vatican agree to upgrade diplomatic relations in near future

Friday, 21st December 2018

Delegations from the Vatican and from Vietnam reported continued progress in their discussions, including agreeing on ‘upgrading’ relations with a permanent papal representative ‘in the near future,’ a Vatican press statement said.

‘They shared the belief that this step will help relations between the two sides grow and develop further,’ said the statement, released on 20th December.

The two official delegations met in Hanoi on 19th December for the seventh meeting of the Vietnam-Holy See joint working group, which is trying to pave the way for full diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the communist government. The last working group meeting was at the Vatican in 2016.

‘The two sides agreed that relations between Vietnam and the Holy See should continue to be maintained based on the mutually agreed principles and fruitful dialogue in order to build confidence and bolster relations in the interest of both sides and of the Catholic community in Vietnam,’ the Vatican statement said.

Picture: A priest celebrates Mass in 2015 at a church attended by ethnic Hmong Catholics in the village of Sapa, Vietnam. Delegations from the Vatican and from Vietnam reported continued progress in their discussions, including agreeing on ‘upgrading’ relations with a permanent papal representative ‘in the near future,’ a Vatican press statement said. (CNS photo/Kham, Reuters).